Sir Gawain and the Green Knight (Signet Classics)

Customer Reviews

• Raffel triumphs again  Oct 1, 2000 (17 of 20 found this helpful)

  This 14th Century poem is one of the earliest known works in English. Its provenance is a mystery because literally nothing is known of the poet. It is written in a unique dialect of Middle English and is pretty much unread in the original. This verse translation by Burton Raffel is terrific and does much to elevate the work to the level of Beowulf & Chaucer.

  At Christmas time, a Green Knight enters Camelot and challenges any Knight of the Roundtable to smite him with one blow of a battle axe. The only catch is that one year hence the smiter must receive a similar blow from the Green Knight. Sir Gawain volunteers for this strange duty. He beheads the Green Knight who thereupon picks up his laughing head and reminds Gawain of his obligation & tells him to find him in exactly one year to receive the blow.

  The enchanting adventure leading up to and inculding their subsequent confrontation is beautifully rendered by Raffel. The poem is exciting, humorous & deals with great themes: courage, honor, etc.

  GRADE: A+

• Draws on Celtic myth for a dramatic, moving tale.  Sep 26, 1997 (15 of 23 found this helpful)

  This exciting, powerful myth combines the best of the old Celtic belief in the sanctity of a solemn promise and the Christian ethic of forgiveness. It is moving, dramatic, and inspiring.

• Wonderful  Jan 17, 2006 (9 of 9 found this helpful)

  The story of Sir Gawain and the Green Knight is perhaps the most authentically English of all the King Arthur tales. Most of the Arthurian mythos was largely a largely French creation, when the Norman conquerors discovered a few old Celtic legends about Arthur and wove them into a dynamic myth of chivalric idealism. The story of Sir Gawain is regarded by most scholars as a much purer version of those Celtic stories, as well as a much more nuanced synthesis of Celtic cultural heritage with Christian ideals. J.R.R. Tolkien was fond of citing it as one of his very favorite stories and deepest influences.
  
  Raffel's translation is sure to endear itself to any fan of fantasy, medieval literature, or the King Arthur stories. It flows with the simple beauty of a dream, and the purity of heart of Gawain himself. Do yourself a favor and spend an hour or two reading this.

• Wonderful  May 21, 2001 (5 of 8 found this helpful)

  I was required to read this book in college ... and I loved it. A tale of courage, the knights code of moral and adventure, this book is not only an adventure story but a depiction of the human condition. Selfishness and fear can ruin our moral constitutions. The knight was a tower strength and courage yet the book brought to focus his fears and his selfishness.

  I'm sure there are deeper levels of analysis for this book - good books often do.

  - johnny -

• Wonderful .. a story of the human condition  May 18, 2001 (3 of 5 found this helpful)

  I was required to read this book in college ... and I loved it. A tale of courage, the knights code of moral and adventure, this book is not only an adventure story but a depiction of the human condition. Selfishness and fear can ruin our moral constitutions. The knight was a tower strength and courage yet the book brought to focus his fears and his selfishness.

  I'm sure there are deeper levels of analysis for this book - good books often do.

  - johnny -